Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.

BariatricPal

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.

Join BariatricPal free

  • Ask your own questions
  • Reply and follow topics
  • Message other members
  • No cost, no spam

Just got approved-Bad anxiety and questions

I am 19 just got approved for surgery..haven't started anything except weight watchers...I have to do three month of weight watchers but after I do weight watchers how soon can I have surgery? Also I am terrified of needles and IV is there a way of asking to be numb before getting IV? Also I know this May sound dumb but can I lose my boobs and butt? I hope not lol also will my doctor work with me if I have bad anxiety about needles? My mom is afraid for me and is being some what supportive but not to much please I need help advice and support

  • Replies 10
  • Views 1k
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Featured Replies

@@veelovee Hi! How in the world did you already get an approval from the insurance company before finishing your pre-op requirements!? I've never heard of such a thing. Maybe I misunderstood? Are you saying your insurance approves Bariatric surgery if you meet the requirements and pass all the pre-op or did you get a stamped approval letter from the insurance company already?

Oh and to answer your other questions who knows about the Butt and boobs? You will more than likely lose some but how much only time will tell. As far as using lidocaine to numb you before an IV stick will totally depend on your hospital. It never hurts to ask, good luck!

Before I retired I was supervising a team of 30 male (all veterans) housekeepers. They were trained killing machines and yet many of them were squeemish about any kind of needle stick.

Being anxious about hospital procedures is not uncommon. Even if they don't numb the skin, they may give you a little something th help you mellow out so that you don't care that you are getting an IV.

If you are right handed, ask them to put the IV in your left arm. If you are left handed, ask them to put the IV in your right arm.

Once when I had to have some blood work done, the tech said, "You are going to feel a little prick." So I said "My ex-husband was a little prick!"

Getting all these procedurs and tests done can be considered a right of passage to find the new you. Hopefully all of this will go smoothly for you.

Getting an i.v. put in isn't too bad. Just let the RN know about your anxiety towards needles. A lidocaine injection is an additional needle so I would skip that. Make sure that you are well hydrated the day before you have surgery.... that will help with starting the i.v.

Just my two cents...I'm an RN and have to deal with these issues often. I also talk to my patients and distract them when starting a line. Maybe yours will do the same.

Good luck to you!

I know this isn't typically done, but because my hands are IMPOSSIBLE to find a vein in, I always have the inside of my elbow used for the IV. It isn't as painful, I do have the lidocaine injection, as it seems the nurses really have felt it was necessary as the needle is larger, but I don't think it is necessary. Don't look. The needle stuff used to really bother me as well, I used to hate to get shots. But I've had so many (21 surgeries to date), they really are insignificant. Try to think of something to distract yourself while it's happening, it goes really fast. I've had no problem when I tell them to use my inner elbow, just an idea. Good luck to you and let us know how it goes. God bless and Merry Christmas!

  • 2 weeks later...

I am a nurse and they can numb you for an IV start, but they do that with a needle albeit much smaller than the IV will be.. You could ask them to give you anti anxiety med before they do the procedures. My best advice is discuss with your surgeon. Also, you will meet anesthesia prior to your surgery talk to them also... They do not want you to act a fool so they will more than likely give you something, but they won't know unless you tell them.

Edited by vanessak8

I am 19 just got approved for surgery..haven't started anything except weight watchers...I have to do three month of weight watchers but after I do weight watchers how soon can I have surgery? Also I am terrified of needles and IV is there a way of asking to be numb before getting IV? Also I know this May sound dumb but can I lose my boobs and butt? I hope not lol also will my doctor work with me if I have bad anxiety about needles? My mom is afraid for me and is being some what supportive but not to much please I need help advice and support

There is a patch called EMLA you can ask for. It must be applied to the area at least 30 minute before. However if you get really anxious they can give you something to relax in pre-op. The easiest thing is to learn how to manage your anxiety now. Practice making slow, even breathes. Look away if you must. Ask the nurse to count down to 3. On 3 breath out slowly and evenly. As long as you can stay relaxed you shouldn't feel much more than a tiny pinch.

As for your boobs and butt, yes we loose all over. However, if you are good about exercising you can still look proportioned and toned.

@@veelovee Hi! How in the world did you already get an approval from the insurance company before finishing your pre-op requirements!? I've never heard of such a thing. Maybe I misunderstood? Are you saying your insurance approves Bariatric surgery if you meet the requirements and pass all the pre-op or did you get a stamped approval letter from the insurance company already?

I was approved before I finished all my testing. I think I still had to take my PFT, my nutrition class and sleep study when I received the letter.

Edited by BLERDgirl

There is a patch called EMLA you can ask for. It must be applied to the area at least 30 minute before. However if you get really anxious they can give you something to relax in pre-op. The easiest thing is to learn how to manage your anxiety now. Practice making slow, even breathes. Look away if you must. Ask the nurse to count down to 3. On 3 breath out slowly and evenly. As long as you can stay relaxed you shouldn't feel much more than a tiny pinch.

As for your boobs and butt, yes we loose all over. However, if you are good about exercising you can still look proportioned and toned.

I was approved before I finished all my testing. I think I still had to take my PFT, my nutrition class and sleep study when I received the letter.

Totally forgot about EMLA, which is ironic since we use it all the time in the NICU on babies. Anyway, I would still talk to both your surgeon and anesthesia prior to surgery.

I was a child life specialist so we used it often. ;)

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Account

Navigation

Search

Search

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.